We conduct independent research into significant challenges to the economy, society and the welfare state in a global world.

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Research

Fact of the day

The ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin Institute for the Economy and the Future of Work (RFBerlin) engages in research designed to raise the standard of public debate and create the best possible basis for policy making.

Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity
Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity
Migration & Global Collaboration
Migration & Global Collaboration
Technology, Trade & Human Capital
Technology, Trade & Human Capital

Discussion papers

No. 4/26 - January 2026

Life-cycle effects of public childcare: Evidence on children and their parents

Mikko Silliman, Juuso MΓ€kinen

No. 3/26 - January 2026

Anatomy of US Inequality

Oded Galor, Daniel C. Wainstock

No. 2/26 - January 2026

The Minimum Wage And Inequality Between Groups

Francine Blau, Isaac Cohen, Matthew Comey, Lawrence Kahn, Nikolai Boboshko

No. 1/26 - January 2026

Affective Polarization, Media Outlets, and Opinion Dynamics

Sebastiano Della Lena, Luca Paolo Merlino, Yves Zenou

Research Insights

Concise, research-based articles for scholars,
policymakers, and anyone curious about the world.

News

RFBerlin research and researchers are regularly featured in the press.

CReAM at RFBerlin Press

23 Jun 2025 β€’ Reuters, DER SPIEGEL, MSN, etc.

Research on Education Levels of EU Immigrants in the Media
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CReAM at RFBerlin Press release

23 Jun 2025

Education Levels Among Immigrants in the EU Reach Record High
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CReAM at RFBerlin

23 Jun 2025 β€’ CReAM

CReAM Report: Education Levels Among Immigrants in the EU
Read report
Press release

2 Jun 2025

One in Ten German Firms Targeted by Industrial Espionage
View article

Tweets by @RF_Berlin

🧠New RFBerlin Research Insight!
πŸ‘₯ @luo_qinyue, @LiaoliangZ & Xinhan Zhang

Using a unique setting in China where age caps in job ads are legal, this study reveals how explicit age requirements shape who applies, and who doesn’t.

One of the surprising findings? Even younger

New RFBerlin Discussion Paper!
@VirginiaMinni, Kieu-Trang Nguyen, Heather Sarsons & @CarlaSrebot show how managers transmit gender norms at work. Who sets the norms inside firms?
πŸ”— https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26040.pdf

New RFBerlin Discussion Paper!
@FenellaCarpena & Simon Galle study how technical change affects workers across occupations. The mechanisms behind adjustment matter.
πŸ”— https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26039.pdf

New RFBerlin Discussion Paper!
Jim Albrecht, Per-Anders Edin, Raquel Fernandez, Jiwon Lee, Peter Skogman Thoursie & Susan Vroman analyze how parental leave shapes norms. Can policy change culture as well as behavior?
πŸ”— https://www.rfberlin.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/26038.pdf

Upcoming events

RFBerlin hosts a wide array of events aimed at fostering academic research and collaboration.

Handbook of Labor Economics – Chapter Previews

In anticipation of the upcoming Handbook of Labor Economics, we offer early access to select chapters through our Discussion Papers series. Following our 2023 conference on this new edition, first chapters are now available for preview, featuring insights from leading research in economics and labor.

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